Friday, May 22, 2015

Under Pressure: The Science of Stress & What You Can Do

by Gabi Pinto-Coelho

Stress: it’s everywhere.

While we usually associate it with our
lives at work, there is no guarantee that its gray cloud will dissipate once
you get back home. We have dinners to make, kids (and maybe even parents) to
take care of, homes to clean, errands to run, the list goes on. In our
fast-paced culture, it seems like stress is inescapable.

We all know that stress is harmful to our health. Sometimes, we can
literally feel its effects in the form of tense shoulders, a headache, or that
overwhelming desire to hit the pillow the moment we are able. But what many
people don’t know is how exactly stress affects us on a biological and
neurologicallevel. Stress has the rather unwelcome ability to change
our brain activity and even the function of our cells.

Research has shown that stress is a risk factor for the
development of addictions and vulnerability to relapse. Exposure to stressors,
especially for a prolonged period of time, leads to an inability to control
impulses. Unsurprisingly, this increases the risk to use, and ultimately, abuse
substances of any kind.

New research has linked chronic stress to the shortening of
telomeres, which are like disposable caps at the ends of your chromosomes.
Telomeres protect your genetic material from deterioration. So, what’s the big
deal? Over time, your telomeres will naturally shorten as your cells replicate.
This process of gradual telomere shortening is a normal, expected part of
aging. However, research has shown that exposure to chronic stress will
accelerate the telomere aging process. Have you ever
noticed how people who are very stressed look a little ragged, tired, and older
than they really are? Scientists suspect that part of this has to do with our
shrinking telomeres. This accelerated telomere shortening also puts us at risk
for age-related and chronic health conditions.

The good news is that scientists have researched lifestyle factors
effective for protecting yourself against the effects of stress on your life
and your telomeres. Most of these lifestyle factors are not surprising, and are
always a part of a healthy lifestyle.

These more obvious factors include: not
smoking, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight. Perhaps the most interesting of proven protective
measures is meditation. While it is well-known that meditation and other
mindfulness practices are useful for reducing stress in general, recent research
has demonstrated a connection between meditation and a slowing of the erosion
of telomeres. For those struggling with addiction,
meditation has proven time and again to be a helpful tool to manage cravings
and avoid relapse.

Stress affects almost everyone, but those suffering with addiction
are especially vulnerable to its effects, on both an emotional and a biological
level. That means that living a healthy lifestyle is vital to the well-being of
anyone recovering from substance abuse.

We hear it all the time but it is worth
repeating: take time to take care of yourself. Not only will you feel better,
but you just might lengthen your telomeres, reduce your chances of relapse, and
prolong your life.

About Me

The Coleman Institute, the Advanced Center for Addiction Treatment, is recognized as one of the most successful and innovative outpatient accelerated detox centers for addiction treatment in the country with 10 offices in the U.S.
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